Italy has declared a state of emergency in two flood-hit regions after days of rain in the north of the country. The right-wing government of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni also provided 20 million euros in emergency aid to the two regions of Emilia-Romagna and Marche.
Because of the rain, many streets are under water. In total, more than 2,500 people had to be evacuated from their homes. Cities such as Bologna, Modena and Ravenna are affected, as is the Rimini beach resort on the Adriatic.
Meanwhile, there is also mutual blame between Rome and the regional governments of the flood-hit areas. The right-wing civil protection minister Nello Musumeci accused the social democratic administration of Emilia-Romagna of not using the money that had already been made available correctly. “Something is wrong. Such catastrophic floods cannot always occur in Emilia-Romagna,” said the minister. Last year, 17 people died there in storms. The material damage ran into the billions.
The Social Democrats dismissed the accusations as an electoral maneuver. Elections will be held in November in Emilia-Romagna, one of the richest and traditionally left-wing regions in Italy.
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